Positioning hinge mechanism for rotatably and pivotably mounted barriers



May 14, 1963 M. KERMAN 3,089,184

POSITIONING HINGE MECHANISM FOR ROTATABLY AND PIVOTABLY MOUNTED BARRIERS Filed Oct. 24. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 @Il fa "2'" '.l| L ml I ,'34 1 ...z l l 3a VENTO/Q.- 4h59 @m mm @y @Wwmm 20 ATTORNEYS.

M. KERMAN POSITIONING HINGE MECHANISM FOR ROTATABLY AND PIVOTABLY MOUNTED BARRIERS May 14, 1963 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24. 1960 /N VEN TOR.'

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PosITroNING HINGE NECHANISM FOR ROTATABLY AND PIvoTABLY MOUNTED BARRIERS Filed oct. 24. 1960 5 sheets-sheet s /NIV/VTOR;

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United States Patent O 3,089,184 PGSTIONWG HlNGE MECHANISM FOR ROTAT- ABLY AND PIVOTABLY MOUNTED BARRIERS Mark Kerman, 7612 Bosworth Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed Oct. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 64,527 7 Claims. (Cl. 16-141) This invention relates to a positioning mechanism and more particularly to a positioning mechanism for pivotably and rotatably mounted barriers for stably maintaining the barrier at a plurality of arcuately spaced positions.

A pivotably, or rotatably, mounted barrier, or door, which may be stably maintained at a plurality of arcuately spaced positions, and which, when unrestrained in an intermediate position automatically seeks one of such plurality of stable positions, is not per se new. However, such prior devices usually utilize camming mechanisms which are separate and apart from the barrier itself and which require at least some semi-permanent installation in the framework of the doorway wherein the barrier, or door, is to be mounted. Such prior constructions not only are relatively expensive but also require considerable skill in installation.

One object of this invention is to provide a barrier in combination with a positioning mechanism therefor for stably maintaining the barrier at a plurality of radial attitudes that are arcuately spaced from each other and wherein the positioning mechanism is housed within the barrier itself, thereby providing a preassembled device which is characterized by inexpensiveness of construction and simplicity of installation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved positioning mechanism for pivotably mounted barriers and the like wherein the positioning mechanism is arranged to stably main-tain the barrier at a plurality of radial attitudes that are arcuately spaced from each other and which mechanism is also arranged to automatically move said barrier to one of said stable positions when the barrier is unrestrained at a radial attitude that is arcuately spaced intermediate said stable positions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved positioning mechanism for pivotably mounted barriers and the like, which mechanism is provided with a novel selectively operable friction collar to permit of selective axial positioning of the mechanism on a mounting rod therefor.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevation view of a pivotably mounted door construction mounted in a door frame and wherein the door embodies the invention disclosed in this application;

FIGURE Z is an enlarged, fragmentary, side View which is partly in cross-section and illustrates one form of the invention, and which shows the cam member in engagement with the high-dwell region of the cam edge;

FIGURE 3 is similar to FIGURE 2 but shows the @am member in engagement with the low-dwell region of the cam edge;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a further enlarged, fragmentary view of a modified form of the invention and shows a cam member in engagement with the high-dwell region of the cam edge;

FIGURE 6 shows an alternate position for the device of 3,089,184 Patented May 14, 1963v ice FIGURE 5 and shows the cam member in engagement with the low-dwell region of the cam edge;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the portion of the frame structure seen in FIGURES 5 and 6;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-section View taken on line 8-8 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a typical installation of a. pivotable panel embodying features of this invention, and illustrates a modified form of construction for locating the panel positioning mechanism at selected heights along the mounting rod therefor;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the positioning mechanism utilized in FIGURE 9 with parts broken away to show the operative parts; and

FIGURE ll is a vertical axial cross-section View of the selectively-operable gripping collar that is useable with the positioning mechanisms disclosed herein.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a portion of a door frame including opposite upright sides 10 and 12, a top 14, and a bottom, or floor, 16. An elongated, pivotable barrier, door, or panel, 18 is illustrated positioned within the door frame and is shown to have a vertical dimension smaller than the door frame, for reasons that will appear hereinafter. The mounting means for the barrier 18 includes an elongated mounting rod, or support shaft, 20. The barrier, or door, 18, as best seen in FIGURE 4, is hollow and includes opposed upright sides 22 and 24, and, from FIGURES 1 and 4, it can be seen that the support shaft 20 extends vertically longitudinally through the hollow door 18, spaced between the sides 22 and 24.

Now the support shaft 20 may be of any appropriate design which permits of ready positioning of the support shaft 20 within the door frame. Thus, the shaft 20 may, for example, be a telescopic shaft of typical construction that is well known in the trade. Extensible telescopic shafts have been used heretofore in environments where it is desired to engaged upper and lower abutments so as to mount the shaft at a vertical attitude. Such telescopic shafts have been used in lamp constructions where the ends of the support `shaft engages the floor and the ceiling and the lamp members are carried thereon. Another desirable construction for the support shaft -20 would be the use of upper and lower journal members, in the form of cups, or annular flanges, 26 and 28, where the journal members embrace and position the end portions of a shaft 20 and also provide means for secu-rely attaching the journal members respectively to the upper and lower portions of the door frame as by means of screws, or the like. In any event, the preferred construction is one where the support shaft 20 is equipped with hardware which permits of ready assembly or disassembly of the shaft 20 and barrier 18 connected thereto in a door frame so as not to require extensive structural modifications of the door frame for. the positioning of the barrier therein. .l

While the ysupport shaft 20, when positioned within a doorway, as illustrated in FIGURE l, is spaced somewhat adjacent side 10 of the door frame, it will be understood that, by preassembly, the shaft 20l may be arranged substantially anywhere along the width of the barrier 18 to which the shaft 20 connects, and all that is required is determination in advance of the type of pivoting of the barrier that is desired, and the construction may be predesigned so as to permit of locating the shaft 20 closer to, or further Ifrom, the side 10 of the door frame, as desired.

Turning now to the specific positioning mechanism within the barrier, or door panel, 18 by means of which the purposes of this invention are achieved, reference is had to FIGURE l, wherein is illustrated a yframe means, generally indicated at 29, which is located within the panel 18 and which cooperates with the shaft 20. More speciiically, as seen in FIGURES 2 4, the frame means 29 includes three horizontal frame members 30, l32 and 34, which are apertured so that the shaft 20 may extend through said frame members, so that the frame members are pivotable together with the panel 18 about the axis of shaft 20.

Mounted on shaft 29, between the upper and lower limits of the frame members 32 and 34, is an annular sleeve member 36 carrying set screws 38' which provide for selective position of member 36 longitudinally of shaft 2). The sleeve member, yor cam member, 36 is provided with an upper cam edge generally indicated at 40, shaped to define an arcuately extending high-dwell edge portion, or region, 42, the ends of which merge into a pair lof sloping, straight-inclined or rounded, cam edge portions 44' which converge at a low-dwell cam edge region 46. The high-dwell region 42 is preferably of substantial arcuate length in the range of between 90 to 180 when the panel 18 is intended to be used as a double swinging door.

Positioned between the upper and lower contines of the frame members 3:0y and 32 is an annular sleeve member, or stop, 48 which is spaced from member 36 and carries a pair of set screws 58 which permits of selective positioning of member 48 axially of shaft 20. A partially compressed coil spring 52 is provided concentric with shaft 20 and positioned between the stop 48 and an abutment plate 54 carried by frame member 32, so that the panel 18, being connected to the frame member 32, is normally biased by the compressed spring 52 downwardly relative to the shaft 20. The upper end of spring 52 abuts .stop 48, and the spring 52 is located above frame member 32 while the cam member 36 is located below frame member 32. The frame member 3 4 carries a mounting bracket 56, from whence is supported a mounting block -58 having a lateral bore 59 therein in which is journaled a stub shaft 60 that carries thereon a rotatable lcam 'follower 62. The cam follower, or member 62 is positioned to engage the cam edge 40 on the sleeve member 36, so that, under the bias of spring 52, the cam follower 62 is maintained in engagemen't with the cam edge 40 of the sleeve member 36.

From the foregoing, it will vbe understood that the arrangement of the high-dwell cam region 42 and lowdwell region 46 on the ysleeve member 36 provides a plurality of arcuately spaced positions whereat the frame means 29, and the panel 18 to which the frame means connect, may be stably positioned relative to the support shaft 20. When the panelis moved to, and is unrestrained at, -a position intermediate the high-dwell region 42 and the low-dwell region 46, the cam follower 62 engages the sloping cam edge por-tions 44, so that the panel 18 will automatically move to the low-dwell position where the panel 18 is stably maintained.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that there has been provided a mechanism which is carried within the panel 18 itself, which permits of stably maintaining the panel at a plurality of radial attitudes that are arcuately spaced fnom each other and which mechanism is arranged to automatically move the barrier to one of the stable positions when the barrier is unrestrained at a radial attitude that is arcuately spaced intermediate said stable positions. While the barrier shown in IFIGURE 1 appears to be a normal door, it will be understood that by locating the pivotv shaft 29 at a point substantially equidistant of sides and 12 of the door frame, the panel 18 may be arranged as a rotatable turnstile, thereby providing for passage in opposite directions through the `doorway on either side of the support shaft 20. Furthermore, by appropriately shaping the cam edge 40, it can be arranged so that the panel 18 could be rotated in only one direction relative to the support shaft 20, and this would limit the panel 18 to unidirectional rotation.

In the device disclosed in FIGURES 2-4, because of the fact that the sleeve member 36 is stationary on shaft 20 there is some relative vertical movement of the panel 18 relative to the support shaft 20, as the panel pivots on the shaft Ztl. For that reason, there is clearance provided between the upper and lower edges -of the panel 18 and the upper and lower edges `of the door `frame illustrated in FIGURE l, to accommodate such relative vertical movement.

Now, in the deivce of FIGURES 5-8 disclosed herein, a mechanism is provided whereby such relative vertical movement between the iframe means and the shaft 4about which the frame means pivots is avoided. There is shown in FIGURES 5-8 -a support shaft generally indicated at 2li', and the frame means are generally indicated -at 29 and include an upper frame part 78 and a lower ftaml part 72. The upper and lower frame parts 78 and 72 are interconnected by a plurality of upright frame menlbSrS 74 and 76, thereby providing a substantially rigid frame. Mounted on support shaft 2d is an elongated sleeve, or tube, 78, the upper end of which is grooved to carry a removable split ring 88 which abuts frame member 70'. The lower end of sleeve 78 carries a connector ring 82, which, in turn, carries a set screw 84 that extends through the sleeve 78 and which provides means for rigidly connecting the sleeve 78 to the support shaft 20'. By the foregoing structure the frame means 29 is selectively positionable along shaft 2li. The sleeve 78 is arranged to have the frame means 29' rotatably mounted thereon, as is illustrated, and an appropriate bearing washer, or spacer, 86 `is provided between the connector ring 82 and the part 72 of frame means 29.

The frame means 29 carries a rotatable cam follower 88 which is mounted on a stub shaft 90 carried in an oilite bearing 92 positioned in frame member '74. The extended end of stub shaft 99 is appropriately grooved to receive a snap ring 94 which abuts member 74 and securely locates the cam follower S8 at the desired position and attitude.

There is provided an axially reciprocable sleeve mem ber 96, the upper end of which is shaped to provide a cam edge 98, similar to the cam edge 40 on sleeve member 36 shown in FIGURES 2-4. The cam edge 98 has a high-,dwell region 100 and an opposite low-dwell region 102 interconnected by means of a pair of sloping cam edges 104. The sleeve member 96 is axially slidable on sleeve 78. The sleeve member 96 is biased against the cam follower 88 4by means of 4a partially compressed coil spring 106 which is concentric with sleeve '78 and which abuts at its lower end against frame member 72 and at the upper end against an abutment spacer 108 which engages the lower edge of sleeve member 96. When the panel or frame means 29 is pivoted relative to shaft 20', the cam member 88 moves arcuately with the frame means 29 but is always located in the same plane transverse to the shaft 20. In order to restrain the sleeve member 96 to reciprocal movements axially of shaft 20', there is provided a keyway means between the sleeve 78 and the sleeve member 96. As shown specifically, the sleeve member 96 is provided with an elongated aperture, or keyway slot, 110, and an elongated key 112, carried on sleeve member 78, is slidably positioned in keyway slot 110 to maintain reciprocation of sleeve member 96 in directions only axially of sleeve 78.. The key may be formed 0n sleeve 78 in any appropriate way but, as specilically shown in FIGURE 8, it is spot-welded to the periphery of sleeve member 78.

It will be understood that as the frame means 29', to which a body or panel may be connected, is selectively rotated or pivoted, the sleeve member 96 is caused to reciprocate against the bias of spring 106 as the cam edge 98 is moved against cam follower 88, and thus means are provided for stably maintaining said frame means 29', or the panel, at a plurality of radial attitudes that are arcuately spaced from each other, by selectively moving 'the panel to the stable positions, and the mechanism disclosed also automatically moves the panel to one of the stable positions when the panel is unrestrained at a radial attitude arcuately spaced intermediate the spaced positions.

By the arrangement shown in FIGURES -8 there is no relative axial movement between the panel and the support shaft 20', and the mechanism for maintaining the panel in stable positions relative to the mounting shaft 20 is totally contained within the hollow panel to which the mechanism connects. It will be understood that the camming edge of the cam sleeve 36 or 96 may be provided with any varied combination of cam lift edges as desired, so that different actions may be obtained from different cam sections, or whereby the same action may be repeated a plurality of times along the periphery of the camming edge.

In the form of device shown in FIGURES 9 and l0, an elongated tubular mounting rod, or shaft, 20 is positioned in a doorway between a frame top 14" and a licor 16". Mounting flanges for shaft 20" are provided at 26" and 28 which are respectively secured to top 14 and floor 16 by appropriate means such as screws, or the like. The shaft 20 is hollow and telescopically rcceives therein a centering stud 27 carried by flange 26".

The shaft 20" carries thereon a hollow panel frame 29, which frame carries thereon a positioning mechanism, generally indicated at 120. The positioning mechanism includes a sleeve 122 slidably mounted on shaft 20" and rotatably carrying thereon spaced frame members 124 and 126 that are joined together by transverse frame members 128 and 130. A collar 132 on sleeve 122 engages the underside of frame member 124 and connects to sleeve 122 by set screw 134. A compressed coil spring 136 surrounds sleeve 122 and abuts collar 132 at one end and a rigid washer 138 at its other end. The Washer 138 bears against the upper end of an annular cam sleeve member 140. The lower edge Iof cam sleeve 140 engages a rotatably mounted cam follower wheel 142 carried by support 144 that is rigidly mounted on frame member 126. The sleeve 122 carries a key 146 that projects radially outwardly into a keyway 148 defined in the side of cam sleeve 140 to permit of reciprocation of cam member 140 relative to sleeve 122. The cooperation of the lower edge of cam member 1450 with cam follower 142 provides for a positioning operation as described generally in the description of FIGURES 5-8 above. The upper edge of cam member 140 may also be provided with a cam surface, as shown. This upper cam surface is inoperative in the position of FIGURE l0, but provides a second cam surface on member 140 that may be utilized by upending, or reversing, the cam member from the position of FIG- URE 10.

The lower end of sleeve 122 extends below frame 29 and has an extension 150 that is radially enlarged and is male-threaded. An exteriorly knurled, elongated, manually operable, collar 152 is provided with female threads at one end for threaded connection to extension 151i, and an inturned flange 154 at the other end extending inwardly to terminate closely adjacent shaft 24). An axially elongated resilient gripping sleeve 156, of rubber or the like, is positioned s-urrounding shaft 20 and located between extension 150 and flange 154. By selectively advancing flange 154 toward extension 150, the sleeve 156 is compressed to frictionally engage and grip shaft 20", to thereby axially locate the entire mechanism relative to shaft 20". By selectively releasing the compression on sleeve 156, the mechanism is free to be slid along shaft 2% to any selected position where the sleeve 156 may be compressed and caused to frictionally grip the shaft.

The arrangements as above disclosed lare such that the panels may be prefabricated and kept in stock and may be delivered for installation where it is desired to have pivotable panels of this type. It will be understood that while the instant application discloses the use of the mechanisrn herein particular-ly for use with la swinging door, the same crm'struction may also be utilized with rotating bodies, doors or panels where it is desired to turn from one position to another, or to turn one complete revolution or any part of a revolution and then remain at rest until the next turn, either in opposite directions or, according to design, in one particular direct-ion, as in the case of turnstiles. The dwell positions of the cams permit the panel to be positioned at -a plurality of alternate positions, and when the panel is moved to an intermediate position the panel is automatically moved to one of the dwell positions by the cooperation between the sloping cam edge portion and the cam follower.

While there -has been shown :and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and Imodifications may be made therein without dep-arting from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the .true spirit `and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A positioning mechanism fora pivotable body which is adapted to be located in a stable manner in a plurality of radial :attitudes that are .arcuately spaced from each other and which body will automatically tend to move to one of said stable attitudes when the body is unrestrained at an arcuate position intermediate said plurality of stable attitudes; said positioning mechanism comprising, in combination: an elongated shaft means; frame means pivotably mounted relative to said shaft means; a sleeve member concentric with said shaft means and providing an arcuate `cam edge thereon; stop means axially spaced from the cam edge on said `sleeve member; a camfollower member carried by said frame means and engaging said cam edge as `said body is pivoted; a partially compressed coil spring concentric with said shaft means for insuring engagement between said cam-follower member land cam edge; means for effecting selective locating `'of said frame means at a plurality `of radial attitudes that are arcuately spaced from ,each Other, said means comprising said cam edge providing a high-dwell Vregion having substantial arcuate length, ian inclined cam edge leading from said high-dwell region to a low-dwell region, said cam edge thereby providing for a plurality of arcuately spaced positions wherein the frame means are stably positioned radially relative to the support shaft, keyway means between said shaft means and said sleeve member which permits of relative axial sliding between said `shaft means and sleeve member; and said coil spring being located between said stop means and said `sleeve member to effect axial movement of said sleeve member relative to said shaft means under the influence of said cam-follower member which moves arcuately with the frame means but which is always located in the same plane transverse to the `shaft means -as the frame means pivots about the shaft means.

2. A device as set forth in claim l wherein the keyway means includes a tube positioned on the shaft means between said shaft and the sleeve member and between said shaft means and the coil spring, an elongated key carried on one of said tube and sleeve member, and an elongated keyway slot defined in the other of said tube and sleeve member for cooperation with said key.

3. A device as set forth in claim l wherein the keyway means includes a tube concentric with the shaft means and positioned between `said shaft means and the sleeve member and between said shaft means and .the coil spring, an elongated -key carried on one of said .tube and sleeve member, an elo-ligated keyway slot defined in the other of said tube 4and sleeve lmember for cooperation with said key, and said frame means being mounted on said tube,

4. A positioning mechanism for use with a pivotably mounted, body, Said positioning mechanism sumar-isms. iii combination: elongated shaft means about whose longi: tudinal axis a body is adapted to pivot; a sleeve slidably positioned on said shaft, an annular earn member concentric with .and slidable on said sleeve and providing a cam edge thereon; frame means pivotally mounted relative to said sleeve; cam-follower means carried by said frame means and presenting a cam-follower member which engages the cam edge on said cam member, and which permits ofrelative movement between said cam-follower member and said cam edge; a stop spaced from the cam edge on said cam member; elongated coil Spring means, concentric with said sleeve and abutting said stop at one end thereof and biasing said cam member toward said cam-follower member for effecting engagement between said cam-follower member and the cam edge on said cam member; and selectively operable gripping means for locating `said sleeve member and said frame means at selected positions axially of said elongated shaft means.

5. A pivotable barrier which is adapted to be stably located in a plurality of radial attitudes that are arcuately spaced from each other and which barrier will automatically move to one ,of said stable attitudes when it is unrestrained at an arcuate position intermediate said plurality of stable attitudes; said pivotable barrier comprising, in combination: elongated shaft means; a sleeve slidably positioned on said shaft means, 1an annular cam member concentric with said sleeve `and providing a cam edge thereon; a stop mem-ber spaced from the cam edge on said cam member; a hollow panel mounted to pivot about said sleeve; a cam-follower member carried by said panel and engaging said cam edge as said panel is pivoted relative to said sleeve; a partially compressed coil spring concentric with said sleeve and abutting said stop member for eiecting engagement between said cam-follower member and said cam edge; said shaft extending vertically through said sleeve and said hollow panel, and said sleeve member, annular cam, stop member, cam-follower member and coil spring being concealed within said hollow panel; and manually 'operable friction means located exteriorly of said panel for locating said sleeve and the panel at selected positions axially of said shaft.

6. A panel positioning mechanism for a Ypiviotable body comprising, in combination: an elongated shaft, a sleeve slidably positioned on said shaft, a compressed coil spring on said sleeve, an `abutment on said sleeve against which one end of the spring abuts, an annular cam slidably mounted on said sleeve Iand providing a cam edge and normally biased away from said abutment by said coil spring, keyway means between said sleeve and cam to restrain the cam to reciprocal movements only axially of said sleeve, frame means rotatably mounted on the sleeve and restrained against movement in one direction axially of the sleeve, a cam-follower on the frame means engaging the cam edge of the annular cam, and manually operable friction means carried by said sleeve for locating said sleeve at selected positions axially of the shaft.

7. A panel positioning mechanism for a pivotable body comprising, in combination: an elongated shaft, a sleeve slidably positioned 'on ysaid shaft, a compressed coil spring on said sleeve, an abutment on said sleeve against which one end lof Ithe spring abuts, an annular cam slidably mounted on said sleeve and providing a cam edge and normally biased away from said abutment by said coil spring, llieyway means between said sleeve and cam to restrain the cam to reciprocal movements only axially of said sleeve, frame means rotatably mounted on the sleeve and restrained against movement in one direction axially of the sleeve, and a cam-follower on the frame means engaging the cam edge of the annular cam.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,056,171 Henry Mar. 18, 1913 1,808,901 McGerry et al June 9, 1931 2,604,653 Anderson et al July 29, 1952 

7. A PANEL POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR A PIVOTABLE BODY COMPRISING, IN COMBIANTION: AN ELONGATED SHAFT, A SLEEVE SLIDABLY POSITIONED ON SAID SHAFT, A COMPRESSED COIL SPRING ON SAID SLEEVE, AN ABUTMENT ON SAID SLEEVE AGAINST WHICH ONE END OF THE SPRING ABUTS, AN ANNULAR CAM SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SLEEVE AND PROVIDING A CAM EDGE AND NORMALLY BIASED AWAY FROM SAID ABUTMENT BY SAID COIL SPRING, KEYWAY MEANS BETWEEN SAID SLEEVE AND CAM TO RESTRAIN THE CAM TO RECIPROCAL MOVEMENTS ONLY AXIALLY OF SAID SLEEVE, FRAME MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE SLEEVE AND RESTRAINED AGAINST MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION AXIALLY OF THE SLEEVE, AND A CAM-FOLLOWER ON THE FRAME MEANS ENGAGING THE CAM EDGE OF THE ANNULAR CAM. 